COBHAM’S NHS dental practice, which was officially opened more than one week ago, is still to treat its first patient.

MP for Esher and Walton, Ian Taylor declared the River Mole Dental Practice open for registrations on Saturday June 23, but as the News & Mail went to press yesterday (Tuesday), dentists were yet to see a single patient.

A hold-up with paperwork meant up to 4,000 patients in Cobham and the surrounding area were left uncertain when the practice would open.

Health chiefs found the problem on the afternoon of Friday June 29 and cancelled all appointments on Monday.

They then held a meeting at 9am on Monday July 2, and just two hours later, project manager for the practice, Indra Gor assured the News & Mail the problem had been resolved and that no further appointments would be cancelled.

But it later emerged that was not the case.

A spokesman for Surrey Primary Care Trust (PCT) said all of yesterday’s appointments had been cancelled too, because a safety certificate had not been produced, and as such, the practice could not be declared safe.

“We are doing all we can to facilitate the opening of the practice to patients as soon as possible,” said the spokesman.

“As a PCT, we have a duty of care to our patients and need to ensure that any premises used for NHS healthcare meet the necessary health and safety requirements.

“We appreciate that any delay is both frustrating and inconvenient for patients with booked appointments, but we have to be absolutely sure that the correct procedures are in place.

In this way we can ensure that patients receive high quality care in an environment that is both safe and appropriate.

“On behalf of the parties involved, we would like to apologise to all patients who have been inconvenienced by this delay.”

The spokesman also said she could not guarantee when the practice would open – leaving patients in limbo.